A Month in Review

Well hi again all,

It has been about a month since I have been down here...in fact it has been 30 days, I would think come tomorrow. Anyway I figure it would be time for another evaluation of my time here and of everything that I've been doing. I must still admit that I am enjoying my work here at Disney, though I will also admit that there are somethings that are just setting me on fire. I have found that as I expected the world of sales isn't that simple, let alone the world of service. You really do have to learn to take a lot of mess from some people and to keep yourself calm and proper through every single situation regardless of whether you should be outraged or not.

DAK (Disney's Animal Kingdom) is one of the more amazing places to work I would think. Though I would like to try out Magic Kingdom where there are more people and more discussions. While the experience is great I have to confess that they definitely know how to work the college program people. Not only do we not get to pick any of the good hours but our days are long. Generally in the 9-10 hour range which is so draining especially when you are forced to work 8 days straight with those types of hours. The main excitement of my career so far hasn't been the guests though, while they are important and fun at times I love my co-workers especially the other CPs that I have around me. We all get along and have fun. No matter what we are doing it is always a good time. Not much that stops us at all. All in all I would say so far the trip has been great, I just wish some people had more patience and that I didn't work so much but that can't be helped now can it?

Magical Moments, Stock, and Late Updates

Welcome again,

First off I must apologize for being so late with these updates all the time. It isn't as thought I'm that busy because I don't think that I am...but in the end I really am which is weird. I guess I just haven't adjusted to having very little free time as opposed to college even with a job I had unlimited amounts of free time. I'm sure I have some time I just need to build a schedule which would be far simpler if I didn't have to remake one every week which I'm just too lazy to do. Anyway on to the updates.

So two days ago in Dinoland we did some amazing things. I was part of two magical moments. A magical moment is something that we do for the guests to make them feel really appreciated and also to bring them some of the Disney magic. The first was spud of the day, where I went out and built a Mr. Potato Head with at least one of the children. I built two it was relatively fun. Some of the parents weren't so excited as they wanted to quickly leave but that didn't happen. A little after that I went outside for the most amazing dance that I have ever done in my life...okay maybe not but it was definitely fun, embarrassing, and great all in one. Where else can you get that aside from Disney...and P2 of course. It is called the Dinosaur Walk, a.k.a. Walk the Dinosaur. It is our biggest magical moment for Dinoland and it is also the number 1 magical moment in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Basically a number of the cast comes out and does the dinosaur walk with the guests. We do it for about five minutes and everyone walks by taking pictures and videos of it. It is on YouTube, not the version with me in it, I haven't found it yet but I do hope to someday. Nonetheless it was fun and happy for the guests and it seemed pretty good for the cast members as well aside from the heat...and the amount of sweat after.

Yesterday was a decent day. My task was stocking...and I must admit I have lots of respect for those who can do that task by themselves and do it well. I was having lots of difficulty just dealing with two of the four kiosks and I wasn't even doing the items really for Nemo's kiosks which is pretty bad. I suppose it is a good thing that it was a somewhat slow day. Now I'm on my two day break before I begin an 8 day set of grueling work that will definitely push my limits at least a tiny bit.

Other than that since the last update I haven't done anything. I did find in Walmart season 1 of G1 Transformers for 20 bucks. It is the new 25th anniversary edition too. I'll probably start recollecting those we will see.

Enjoy the days for they are long now...but slowly getting shorter.

Robert

Downs and Rain...and Pins!!

Well all hello again,

Today was a day that deserves some slight writing about. The day started off fine, got pretty bad and then ended with lots of rain...and lighting...and thunder.... Today I found out an amazing fact. Heat attacks...and it hurts. Someone sullied the ground with protein...and it wasn't pretty. After a few minutes of recouping Robert went back out instead of going home he was being brave...Robert got to his cart and lo and behold. Thunder, crackle, lightning, water!! Poor Boneyard cart was closed like a few seconds after I got there. So then I spent a good two hours, including my second break inside messing around and hanigng out with the other employees and the guests.

Later after my break the rain was down the lightning was gone...kind of and the thunder had stopped so I was out at Dinorama cart having a decent time. Nonetheless all in all the day wasn't horrible but it was interesting. I must admit something I have seen over the weeks of working here. Pins...pins that are bought for the children...not being controlled by the children. Parents are way too involved in their children's pin trading. I swear they refuse to let their child trade what they want, due to some sort of attachment to the money spent or something who knows. All I know is that it is slightly annoying when the guest wants to trade and the parent says, "no you wanted to trade this one." I'm pretty sure that if they child wanted to trade that one they would have well enough pointed at it.

That ends today's rant and discussion. Tke as you would anything else I say...with a hint of sarcasm. Oh and what was really amazing was seeing the massive amount of steam rising from the ground as the water came down...that is some hot pavement.

Robert

Some Other Updates

Well I think I have talked quite a bit about Disney in general and all but I forgot this is life with Robert, not Mickey and Robert's Disney Fun Adventure. As such I will detail for you anything that you desire, just post it in a comment and I will tell you all about it.

Okay let's see what have I been doing aside from Disney stuff. Well I am slowly getting back to typing my story/novel in fact I'm on page 43 which isn't bad but I should have been done by now had I stuck to my plan but I can't complain too much. If you all want to know what all has happened since the beginning I can detail all of that but for right now I'll just go over the last few pages. At the moment the crew has landed on a desert like planet for repairs. They defeated the pirates but the main ship, the Lion's Roar, was somewhat damaged in the battle. Most of the fleet has left to defend earth and the main cast is out defending the ship and the crew from the rebels who seem to have a pretty good set of machines on the planet. Who knows how the battle will go...I do.

Hmm...besides the story I finished Mirror's Edge a while back and I must say that if any of you were thinking about getting it you should because it is amazing and it is only like $30 now. At the moment I'm slowly...and by slowly I mean as slow as a slug climbing up a hill being assisted by a turtle who is going the opposite direction, getting through Final Fantasy VI. I don't see much reason to rush it and I'm not even that high leveled so I'll just continue to move slowly. Today I bought myself a Lego Batman game for just $20 and I am quite pleased with that. I also bought my first pair of swimming trunks aside from the ones I had years ago. We will see how those work out. Now of course I can't swim so we will see how long I stay a float. Other than that life is relatively good I do miss hanging out on P2 and all the fun of Kansas though...but soon enough and in time of course.

Another Week

Welcome again to another entry in the life of Robert. There hasn't been too much exciting things going on which is why I haven't posted anything in a while. Work is fully underway and I believe I'm doing a very good job, now I don't know everything and I probably won't ever but I am doing my job well. The guest seem really pleased and I do enjoy getting the chance to talk with them and the other co-workers that I have.

Let's see now the main topic of this post will be the one thing that I am definitely learning the most. That is how to speak of course. My ability to talk to people about anything has definitely expanded since I started working here. I am always out talking with the guests when I can be and working with them to help solve their issues which is quite satisfying. I am also learning a bit of how to run a business which is good and definitely revealing. Now I can't reveal all of the wonders to you but let's just say things are as things are.

Anyway I hope you all have a wonderful day and soon enough I will post again!

My First Day

Well all howdy again as we continue through this adventure. Yesterday was my first real day of work after training. Today I got to put on my third and final costume the stocker costume that allows me to stock things! It is the only one that I can wear with an untucked shirt and it brings happy moments but stocking does not. Far too much back and forth but that is fine I suppose. I must admit work is glorious when it is in the morning, but by he afternoon one runs out of energy far too quickly. Anyway the day was good I got to help a child find his mother which was grand we strolled through the park. It was quite a nice and uplifiting walk. Stocking isn't too much work as much as it is back and forth action which I mildly expected. Today and for the rest of the week and next week I will be on the register supposedly all is always subject to change but we can hope that it doesn't. Let's all get excited as we embark on a new day. How are you all doing?

Happy times and good moments,

Robert

SpectroMagic!!!

Here are some images from the SpectroMagic Parade. It definitely was better than I thought it would be. They first turn off all the lights in the area, which just happens to be Magic Kingdom. Then you get to see thousands of lights as the parade moves on. Quite amazing indeed.

Final Day of Training

Now I'm a full fledge Disney employee I suppose. Today was my last day of training and as such I am now able to stand without my trainers around me. I did excellently today but what is more important is that I got to put on the second of what was two but is now three costumes. Anyway take a lot and be amazed at what Dino Institute puts out...I think it is far better than Chester's & Hester's but that could just be me. And no I wasn't wearing a belt mainly because the one casting gave me was a bit too small...

Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade

Okay here are a few pictures from the first parade. I'm posting the video on Youtube being that it is too big for Blogger...once it is ready I will supply links here and on facebook. In the mean time enjoy Mickey.

Reflection I: My Nonexistent Job

Howdy again all, I hope you all are having a fantastic time indeed.

Well as it says this is my first reflection on my time so far. At the start of this hole ordeal sometime early this year I think I was fond of thinking of my Disney job as something stupid, dumb, and lame. I saw me a college graduate working on a cart selling mess which a high school student could do as a mild slap with a green glove covered in olives.

Now it has been a bit over a week since I landed here in Orlando. This is the first week that I was actually in the park working though I am still in training I was behind the register and in front of it doing what I was assigned to do. All I really have to say is that since I started I don't really want to stop at least not soon. I am part of something amazing and I can now see just what it is. When I'm on-stage I'm not at some sort of job. I don't come in there to with the idea of this is what I need to do to get this done. When I'm on-stage I'm not me. I'm merchantainment man Robert from Kansas State Universiy. I am both a show man and a character on a very grand stage. And what is this so called "job" well it is to follow the basics and to bring out the smiles of those adorable children. Everytime I'm out on-stage my smiles is ready something that definitely isn't a norm for me or at least I don't think it is that normal. It is great to be like an actor and to walk out on stage and be acknowledged as well as to stop a child from crying with simple talk and pins.

It is priceless to be able to give a person with a birthday a phone call from Goofy, to be able to see when a child drops his/her ice cream cone and you just give them a new one. People show so much more appreciation for you when you actually count back their money rather than hand them a wad of bills and coins. It is also exceptional to call a person by their first name during a simple transaction and to see just how much joy it brings them. The guests here feel a lot more important than a customer in a store and I'm glad to be able to bring them that level of happiness. The way that we "work" is so different from the way I've seen and invisioned work. And basically I've come to one conclusion.

I have no job. What I do have is a chance to make a small difference at least in a person's day. A chance to make a child smile and in turn make their parents/guardians happy as well. A chance to go above and beyond and bring service with the utmost pleasure and happiness possible. That is my day and I'm very happy about it and all that I can do for my guests.

Enjoy all that you have before you,

Robert

The First Day...Back to the Basics

Hi again all,

I hope you all have had a lovely time since my last entry. Well to give you a pretty decent update I would suppose, I must admit that today was my first day of training and it was amazing. As you can see from the first bit of this message you are getting pictures along with it. Pictures that I would say I'm mildly distrubed about but at the moment I'm in such a content state that I don't care. This is the Dinoland Chester & Hester merchandise costume. I'm sure it is the most hideous costume in all of Disney's Animal Kingdom but nonetheless with this costume came many moments of smiling happy children and their happy parents/guardians/older people.

I ventured into the park today to look around Dinoland U.S.A. with a trainer today and the thing around my neck spoke volumes to children. Pins are the name, and trading is the game by which I played. Today I got the chance to trade with at least 4 kids and the light on their faces was just amazing. The number one rule is to smile and...don't tell anyone but I was smiling all day until close. Disney's Animal Kingdom specifically Dinoland has a number of attractions, if you haven't been you really should because it is intense. I met a good number of workers today as well all were energetic, fun, and happy. I have found that everyone loves a Disney cast member, I was getting questions that sure enough I didn't know the answer too. I was able to talk with people and see if they needed help, which was for some odd and unknown reason extremely gratifying and pleasing to the soul.

Aside from the park adventuing I had another piece of pumpkin pie today! Which always brings a smile to my stomach and I got the wonderous schedule of when everything happens in Disney's Animal Kingdom. I'm pretty sure that there is no other place that I would be this pleased and still have energy after a full day of work in the sun and all.

It seems as though I will be selling things all over Dinoland instead of just in the main shop which is fine with me. In fact I do kind of hope to be outside for at least a bit, closing isn't too bad at all and the fact that I can interact with hundreds of people a day is just astonishingly satisfying. Well I've typed like a book of mess here, so if you want and the pictures aren't good enough for you there is a video of me and this here costume. Take it as you want and enjoy it all. And you won't get any Disney fun facts because it hasn't been a week yet. Though I might change that we will see.

Wishing you all the best,

Robert